India's power consumption rises 4.5% to 110.34 billion units in Dec

India's power consumption grew by 4.5 per cent in December to 110.34 billion units (BU) over the same period a year ago, according to power ministry data.

In December 2020, consumption was 105.62 BU, up from 101.08 BU in December 2019.

Experts are of the view that power consumption as well as demand has grown at a steady pace in December with improvement in economic activities across the country.

However, they expressed concerns over rising cases of COVID-19 in the country which may compel states to impose local lockdown restrictions, that may affect commercial and industrial power demand as well as consumption as had happened after the second wave hit the country in April 2021.

Peak power demand met or highest supply in a day rose to 183.39 GW in December 2021 compared to 182.78 GW in December 2020 and 170.49 GW in December 2019.

In November this year, the power consumption grew by 2.6 per cent to 99.37 BU. Last year in November, power consumption stood at 96.88 BU and in the same month in 2019, it was at 93.94 BU.

The country's power consumption had grown by 3.3 per cent in October this year to 112.79 BU, compared to 109.17 BU in the same month last year.

Many states had imposed lockdown restrictions after the second wave of the pandemic hit the nation in April this year and affected the recovery in commercial and industrial power demand as states started imposing restrictions in the latter part of the month. Curbs were gradually lifted as the number of COVID cases fell.

Power consumption witnessed 6.6 per cent year-on-year growth in May this year at 108.80 BU, despite a low base of 102.08 BU in the same month of 2020.

In June, it grew nearly 9 per cent to 114.48 BU, compared to 105.08 BU in the same month last year. In July, it rose to 123.72 BU from 112.14 BU in the same month a year ago.

In August this year, power consumption grew by over 17 per cent at 127.88 BU compared to 109.21 BU in the same month in 2020. Power consumption in September this year witnessed subdued recovery with almost flat growth at 112.43 BU mainly due to delayed monsoon (heavy rains). In September last year, power consumption was 112.24 BU.